Co-management of reef fisheries: general features Tuvalu Semese Alefaio and Alan Resture
WHERE, WHO? / OU, QUI? Population: 10782 Land area: 26Km 2 EEZ: 900,000 Km 2 Elevation: <4m Language: Polynesian Key issue: Food security, Coastal erosion, Health, Water security Average national fish consumption: 142 kg/person/year Coral reefs in Tuvalu are estimated to have the potential to supply >850kg per person per year (Bell et al)
Falekaupule Act (1997) Marine Resources Act (2006) Conservation Area Act (1999) The national leading agency in the country is the Tuvalu Fisheries Department inpartnership with NAPA II and Ridge to Reef project. Collaborators includes all Falekaupule, Kaupule and fishermen association of each island.
ISSUES AND THREATS / ENJEUX ET MENACES Overfishing Unclear objective on setting up LMMA or taboo areas No management plans Hidden agenda within the community for set up of taboo area Setting up wrong example e.g FCA Lack of experience and trained personnel on participatory resource management Poaching and unclear boundaries of taboo areas Uncontrollled taking of endangered species in the outer islands Managing non-fisheries activities and environmental problems Prosecution and legislation Poor data collection and management Setting up clear simple MOU for co-management with collaborators Lack of public participation on decision making Political differences at local/national level Communication some times is almost impossible to some sites
TIMELINE / HISTORIQUE 1978- Tuvalu became independent from Kiribati 1996- First MPA in Tuvalu was set up in Funafuti(Funafuti Marine Conservation Area) 1999- Conservation Area Act & Falekaupule Act passed through parliament 2006- Nanumea and Nukufetau LMMA was set up through LMMA network assistance 2009-Management plans for Nukulaelae & Vaitupu LMMA was set up through SPC coastal programme assistance 2014-present: TFD and partners assisting all islands MMAs
OUTCOMES AND RESULTS RESULTATS National Sustainable Development Plan set up and support LMMAs(TK III) 2015 Set up of data base Demarcation of all LMMAs in Tuvalu GIS maps of all LMMAs Over 76 Km 2 of tabu area(300% of total land area) Island stragetic plans for each island set up S.E and creel surveys run on each island NZ,GEF, World Bank, TV government committed to support coastal program for 5 years(corporate Plan) Draft MOU with each island LMMA 2017-2019
HOW IT COULD BE DONE BETTER? QUELLES PISTES D AMELIORATION? Regular visit to each island Quarterly reports provided by community officers Use of church leaders based on each island might be an effective way to solve conflict Mainstreaming of right information More measures to divert fishing pressure off the reef to use pelagic resources National annual event such as island leaders assembly(tila) or site exchange program Use available resources if external support is not available Website, regular radio update program. Institutionalisation and formulation of Coordination Committee Gain Political support
Aliki ote fenua Fafine Tagata faika Ulusina
Guide maps
Participation,Sharing,Fun
Present it back to the community
GALUELUE FAKATAHI TATOU KI MUA! ONWARD TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP